Electric railway-gate.



No. 886,842. PATENTED MAY 5, 1508'.

R. M. MUGEB- ELEGT'RTG RAILWAY GATE. 'APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 8, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

R. M. MoGEE. ELECTRIC RAILWAY GATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I fiat/6162b UNKTEE earner mos.

OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CDRPORATION OF TEXAS.

/ ELECTEIG RAILWAY-GATE.

so. ceases.

provide an electrically actuated railway crossing gate ving switch mechanism for reversing the motor circuit at approximately the limit of I movement of the gate in either direction,

I ary gate ,2 connected to electro-magnetic means for independently actuating the switch mechanism to'arrest the movement of the gate in either direction, together with means carried by the gate arm which, upon striking an obstacle indtsdescent, arrests the movement of the gate and places the operating apparatus in condition to immediately reverse the gate movement, the operations or" raising, lowering and reversing the respective movements of the gate being conveniently controlled by located in a tower or other suitable station. These and other objects of the invention will appear more particularly in the annexed s ecification, considered in connection with tile accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate and its operating mechanism, the casing inciosing the mechanism being shown section; Fig. 2 is anend view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the casing being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a detail of the electric switch for arresting the gate" when the same descends upon an obstacle on the track; and Fig. 41's it diaerammatic view of the electric circuits and the apparatus connected therewith.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the pivoted armor a railway crossing gate, which may be of any preferred or convenient form, and is connected to a transverse shaft 3 mounted in a suitable stand or casing 100.

here the ate is adapted to be used in connection witi a roadway and a foot-path or sidewalk as well, there is provided a seconda shaft 4, as will be well understood b those skilled in the art.

The apparatus or raising and lowering the gate consists of an electric motor 60, preferably of the shunt typaupon the shaft 5, of

following to be a full,

an operator Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed august E3, 1907. Serial No. 387,673.

Patented May 5, 1908.

which is mounted a gear 6 which is connected by means of a gear train 7, 8, 9 and 9' with a segmental gear 10, which latter is provided with an arm 1'1 carrying at its end a pin 12 which engages a slot 14 in bell-crank 13 which is secured to the shaft of the ate 1, and causes the latter to rise or fall as t is rotated in one-direction or the other. In order to swing the auxiliary or sidewalk gate 2 concurrently withthe main gate, the latter is connected to the bell-crank 13 by means of a link 15 and crank-arm 16, which latter is secured to the shaft of said gate 2.

The current for operating the motor may be derived from any convenient source, such as a power transmission line, winch may supply a number of gates, is in isolated position, from a suitable tery. The illustration indicates a battery 80 for supplying the current to the motor and the subsir iary ap aratus of the gate.

As indicated t e invention contemplates the provision of means for breaking the motor circuit. when the gate has reached same time, reversing the motor current, referahly, by reversing the contacts of the sliunt field circuit, so that when the'motor circuit is again closed the I verse direction to produce a corresponding movement of the gate.

. In order to effect the shifting at the le changer by the clperation of the'gate, t ere is provided 9. rec lever 18 loosely mounted upon the shaft of the segment 10, and provided with ins 19 and 20 which are adapted to engage t 6 sides of arm 11 of the segmeiat, as the gate reaches its lower respectively, by means of which engagement lever 18 is rocked, thereby actuating the movable. member of the ole changer 23 in one direction or the other y means of leverarm 21, connected to said lever 18, and link 22 which connects said am 21 with the movable member of said pole changer, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The ate form, but is conveniently constructs shown in the drawings, consisti rocating bar 59 carrying suita le bri p eces or contacts 61, 62 and 63, said bridgepiece 61 serving to alternately connect fixed contact members 42 and 43, and 44 and 45 ibridge-piece 62 serving a similar pu with rest .to'fixed contacts 40 aild McGEE SWITCH dz SIGNAL COMPANY,

e motor 60.

or, in case the ate either limit of its movement, and, at the" motor will operate in a 1-eand upper limits,

pole changer may be of any approarlof a recipl dge-'105 and 46 and 47; and bridge-piece 63 operating closing appropriate circuits in any manner,

either by means of a manual circuit controller actuated by an operator near the gate or at a ently of the movement of the gate.

' movement.

distance therefrom, or by suitable track circuits, automatically closed to lower the gate as the train approaches the crossing, and similarly closed by the train as it passes beyond the crossing to raise thegate. In order to effectivel and absolutely control the movement of t e gate in either direction, that is to say, to completely lower or raise the same, to arrest its movement at any point, and to reverse the movement after it has been so arrested, there is provided electrical means foroperating the pole changer 23 i.n(lepgn ll a1 means consists of two opposite electro-ma Bets 57 and 58, which are preferably solenoi s located on opposite sides of the pole changer, having their cores formed as extensions of, or connected with the bar 59 which constihates the main movable member of the pole changer. Inasmuch as the mechanical operation of the pole changer by means of segment 10 and rock lever 18 is effected at a proximately the limit of the movement of t e gate in either direction, namely, by the engagement of sides of arm ll of segment 10 with'pinslQ and 20, respectively, of rock lever 18 as the segment 10 approaches the limits of its movement in either direction, it will be apparent that said rock lever is free to be moved in the opposite direction from that in which it has been moved by segment 10, as soon as the gate begins its opposite F or example, in Eigl 1, which shows the gate in lowered position with segmeat 10 and itsr onnected gearing ready to be'operated by the motor to" raise the gate, the movable members of the pole changer are in engagement with the lower sets of fixed contacts. If, after the motor has been started solenoid 57 be energized, it will. be

apparent that it will lift bar. 59 and change t e movable contacts of the pole changer into engagement with the upper sets of fixed contact s, thereby reversing the field of the motor independently of'the movement of-the, gate. Should the gate be in its opposite position or in any intermediate-position, it will be noted that solenoid 58, when energized Will shift'the movablemember of the pole changer to reverse the field of the motor.

To effect the operation of the motor in either direction'and also to actuate solenoids 57 and 58, when found necessary or'desiru blc, the arrangement of the circuits shown in Fig.

flgmay be conveniently em loyed, said circuits being controlled by tll e pole changer 23, aforesaid, and a manual switch operceases ated by the gate tender. The conditionof the circuits shown in Fig. 4 isthat when the gate is in raised position. When the gate is to be lowered, switch 70 is moved to contact which closes the circuit from, battery through switch 70, contact 75, lead 84 to'contact 53, bridge-piece 63 of the pole changer, fixed contact 54, connector 81, lead 83 to one brush of the'motor through the armature to lead 81, and back to the battery by way of lead 81. From the armature of the motor the current divides, part passing through the field by way of lead and connector 49, fixed contact 40,- bridge-piece 62, fixed contact 41, cross-connector 52, fixed contact 45, lead 79 through the field, lead 78 to fixed contact 46, cross-connector 51, fixed contact 42, bridge-piece 61, fixed contact 43, leads 86, S7 and 81 back to the battery 80. When the motor has completely lowered the gates,

bar 59 has shifted the movable member ofthe pole changer 23, so that the bridgepieces thereon on age the opp'osite 'sets of fixed contacts an the circuit of the motor is broken between contacts 53 and 54. When it is desired to raise the gate switch-arm 70 is moved to contact 7 2, thereby establishing the following circuit which drives the motor in the reverse direction: battery 80, switcharm 70, contact 72, lead 88, fixed contacts 55, bridge-piece 63, fixed contacts 56, cross-' connector 81, lead 83 through the armature of the motor and back to the battery by way- I of lead 81. 'Thecurrent through the fiel however, takes the following course? from lead 81 outside the motor brushes by way of lead 85 to cross-connector 49, stationary contact 47, bridge-piece=62,stationary contact 46, lead 78, through the field, in th opposite direction to that heretofore described, lead 79, fixed contact 45, bridge piece 61, fixedcontact 44, cross-connector 48, leads 86, 87 and 81 backto the battery. As soon as the gate has been lowered the pole changer will be mechanically operated, as hereinbefore described, to again operate the pole changer to break the circuit of the motor at contacts 55 arid 56 ahd move bridge-pieces 61 and .62

again. inposition to reverse the fieldet the motor' f Should it be found desirable to sto the movement of the gate at any-position, It will only be necessary to break the corres onding circuit by-means of switch 76. On t e other hand, should it be found desirable to stop the gate in its movement in either direction and immediately reverse the same, the operations may likewise be effected by means of the proper actuation of switch 70. In order to reverse themovement of the gate, it will first be necessary to shift the pole changer 23. If switch 70 be moved to contact 74 while the gate isbeing lowered, the first efiect'of the movement of the switch will be tobrealr asses-a I from battery 80 through the switch arm contact 74, lead 96, through solenoid 58, through eross-connectortil), back to the battery by way of lead 8 The energization of solenoid 58 shifts the pole changer 23 to the opposite position oi that shown, thereb reversing the current through the field of the motor. To raise the gate from the intermediate position at whichit had been stopped in its downward movement, switch arm 70 is shifted into engagement with stationary contact 72 which closes the circuit, heretofore explained, through the motor to effect the de sired operation Similarly, when it is desired to arrest the gate in its upward movefield will be reversed.

from the position in which it had been.

ment and immediately reverse the same, switch arm 70 is moved intoeugagement with contact 71 which closes a circuit in battery 80 through switch-arm 70, contact 71, lead 90, solenoid 57, leads 91 and 81, back to the battery which energizes said solenoid 57 and shifts the pole changer so that the motor 'lo lower the gate stopped, it isf'only necessary to move switch arm 70 into engagement with stationary contact 75 which closes the circuit through the motor, heretofore described.

to effect this operation.

In order to check the movement of the motor, as soon as its circuit has -been disrupted, a suitable brake mav he provided. This brake may be of any preierred form and it may, if desired, be automatic in its operation, eing applied when the motor circuit is elf and released when the'motor circuit is on. A simple and convenientform of brake, however, is illustrated in the drawings. in which represents a brake-applying solenoid, to the core of which is connected lever 112, on the outer end of which is mounted brakeshoe 111, which engages a disk 114- on'the motor shaft. Normally the brake is retract-ed by a suitable spring 1 13, but when it is desired to apply the. brake, switclnarm 70 is moved into engagement with stationary contact 73 which closes the circuit from battery 80 through olenoid 110, follows: switch-arm 70, contact 73, lead 99 through the solenoid 110,, lead 99, and back to the battery by way of lead 81.

It frequently happens that a vehicle, animal or other obstacle is caught below the descending gate with the consequent danger of beingv caught upon the tracks. In anticipation of any such contingency special means are provided, wher by, when the gate in its lowering movement comes in contact with any object, the movement of the gate will be immediately arrested and then reversed to clear the object and prevent the same from i i l l near its pivotal being caught under the gate. lo effect this pur ose, there is stretchedbetween the end of t e gate arm 1 and. a suitable pulley 31 a rope or cable 30, the other end of which is attached by a stout spring, sulliciently strong to keep the cable taut, secured to the gate oint. The spring is attached to the ca do by means of a rod 33 adapted to reciprocate in a suitable guide 38 mounted on the inside of the gate arm.

Mounted upon said rod. 33 is a bridging contact 36 which is adapted to engage fixed contacts 34 and 35 on the guide 38, whenthe cable. has been pulled u on striking a wagon or other object. Normally, however, the 'ontact 36 is held out of engagement with contacts 34 and by spring 37 which holds the cable taut, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. When contact 36 has been moved into engagement with contacts 34 and 35 by the engagement of cable 30 with some object below the gate, a circuit is closed from a battery 93 by way of lead 92, contact 35, bridging contact 36, contact 34, lead 92, solenoid 58, lead 96, lead 96 through an auxiliary solenoid 95, back to the battery 93. The effect of this operation is first to cause solenoid 58 to shift pole changer 23 to a position to reverse the field of the motor for the pur ose of raising the gates. Simultaneous y therewith solenoid 95 is energized and retracts its core 97, the end of which is provided with a book which engages switch-arm and: shi ts the same into engagement with fixed contact 72, which closes the circuit through the motor and starts the same to raise the gate. As soon the obstacle has been cleared, spring 37 draws the cable taut and moves contact 36'out oflengagement with contacts 34 and 35 thereby breaking the circuit through. solenoid 9:). ward movement of the gate, however, con tinues until arrested by the manipulation of switch 70 by the operator, or until the circult of the motor is automatically broken by the mechanical shifting of the pole changer as the gate reaches its upward position.

The mechanism for operating the gate is The u pdesigned with a special view of etl'ccting an 1 easy and positive movement of the gate in both directions, the motor which actuates the gate attaining substantially its full torque before the gate begins to move in either direction and the initial movement of the gate in either direction being relatively slow, the s eed of movement increasing'until the gate ias traveled approximately onehalf of its course and the speed then decreasing regularly until it stops. cumstances the gate starts and stops without any appreciable jar or shock and its absolute control is assured. These peculiar features of the operation are due primarily to the reducing" gearing connecting the motor 60 with the actuating segment 10, and the connectlon of Under thcse clir nation of the pivoted gate arm,

, on the opposite side'oi the dead center the speed of movement oi thegate gradually de creases.

What l'claim is as follows:

1. l n a railway crossing gate, the combination of the pivoted gate arm, an electric motor for raising and lowering said arm, gearing connecting said arm with-the motor, switch mechanism for changing the poles ol the motor circuit operated at :LPPIUXlH'HtiLQlff the limit of movemci'it ol' the gate in either direction, and clectro-magnetic means for independently actuating the switch mechanism. n i '2. In a railway crossing gate, the combian electric motor for raising and lr'iwering said arm,

gearing connecting said arm with the motor, switch mechanism for changing the poles of the inotor circuitoperatcd by the motor at approximately the limit ol IIIOVQIIN'Hi. oi the ate in either direction, electro-magnets f r lndepcndently operating the switch mechanism and circuit controlling means l'or operating said clcctro-mag ne ts. 3. in a railway crossing gate, the combination of the pivoted gate arm, an electric motor for raising and lowering said. arm, gearing connecting said arm with. themotor,

a pole changing switch. in the motor circuit I operated by the motor at approximately the limit of movement of the gate in either direction, oppositely disposed electro-magnets for actuating the pole changing switch independently of the motor, a manual switch,

and circuits connecting the same with the electrmmagnets for operating the pole changing switch to arrest the movement of the gate in either direction.

,4], In a railway crossing gate, the combination of the pivoted gate arm, an electric motor for raising and lowering said arm,

gearing connecting said arm with the motor,

a pole, changingswitch in the motor circuit operated by the motor at approXimate/ly the limit of movement of the gate'in either direc-' tion oppositely disposed clec'troemagnets for actuating the pole changing switch Independently ol'the motor, a manual switch, circuits ssaeae connecting the same with the electro-ma nets ion operating thepolechanging switc to arrest the movement of the gate 111 either direction, and additional circuits between said manual switch and the motor ada ted 6 5 to be' closedby the said manual switc 'to reverse the operation'of said motor. 5. In a railway crossing gate, the combination of the pivoted atearm, an electric motor for raising and owering said. arm, a pole changin switch in the motor circuit operated by t 1e motor atapproximately the limit of'movement of the gate in either direc tion, and means carried by the gate adapted to be actuated upon striking an object during the descent of the gate to arrest the movement of the motor. v s

6. In a railway crossing gate, the combination of the pivoted gate arm, an'electric motor for raising and lowering said arm, a pole' changin switch in themotor circuit operated. by t lie'motor at approximately the limit of movement of the gate in either direction, electro-n'iagnets for actuating the polechanging switch independently of the motor circuits including a manual switch for said elcctro-magnets, a yieldingdevice on the gate to engage any obstacle below said gate, a circuit closer connected with said yielding de vice including the magnet for shifting the pole changer to position for raising the gate, and an electro-magnet for mo'vin the manual switch to close thecircuit to t. 1e motor to ellcct the raising operation.

7. I n a railway crossing gate, the combination ol the pivoted ate arm, a" prime mover for raising and Towering said arm, gcaring connecting said primary move? with the gate arm including ahell-crank connected with thegate, and a. pin and slot connection-" l'ietween said bell-crank and the connecting gearing HQ in a railway crossing gate,- the combination oi a pivoted gate arm,- motor. for raising and lowering said arm, reducing gearing con nccting said motor with the gate arm, said gearing comy'irising-an oscillatory seg, ment, a bell-crank connected with the gate, and a pin and slot connection between said. bell-crank and segment, the eniaging arms of the bell-crank and segment e111 angularly disposed with respect to eac rother when the gate is in either its upper or lower position] In testl mony whereof I my signature, 115 in presence of two-witnesses.

Witnesscs: r

,flscan l), Bnmzmnen,

Winn/iii M. Jones. 

